Council Leader explains why all schools have closed in Flintshire today
An Amber warning for heavy snow has been issued for Flintshire this morning.
A yellow weather warning had been in place since the start of the week.
Snow has been falling steadily since around 6am, leaving a covering on local and side roads.
Flintshire Council said on Wednesday it had recommended, “that all schools in the county should close tomorrow [Thursday] and switch to online learning.”
The decision to close schools in Flintshire caused anger amongst many parents who have had to take a day off work to care for their children.
The council website shows all 82 schools in the county are closed this morning.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Councillor Ian Roberts, the leader of Flintshire Council, said he didn’t take the decision to close the schools.
“The decision was taken by the emergency management response team based on the forecasts that the council was receiving from various sources and the forecast for this morning in particular.”
Cllr Roberts said: “I supported the decision yesterday when the (Flintshire Council) chief executive rang me because as a former teacher, and a former acting head teacher, I’m aware of the implications of closing the school.”
“No one closes schools lightly, it causes disruption which we obviously recognise for parents, but the worst thing is when they’re closed, in my opinion on the day.”
“Even worse than that is when schools are open in the morning, and then due to heavy snow – which is forecast today – they close during the day and you have to ring parents up and say schools closing.”
Cllr Roberts said: “The chief education officer yesterday contacted schools reminding her teachers have what they need to do which was contact their chair of governors and then move to close the school for the day and move to online learning.”
The Met Office said: “Snow is expected to become persistent and, at times, heavy again later Thursday afternoon onwards into early Friday.
“During this time, many places are likely to see 10-20 cm of snow with a chance of up to 30 cm falling, this most likely over higher ground above 200 metres.
“As well as snow, freezing rain is possible giving icy conditions in the south of the warning area, bringing additional hazards to infrastructure and travel.”
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